Cinematography

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 Cinematography


The micro features - Introduction & shot sizes


4 main ‘micro-features’ in film studies:

  • Cinematography (including lighting)
  • Mise-en-scene
  • Editing
  • Sound


These elements when combined, give the film a certain ‘look’ or ‘feel’- this area of film studies is known as aesthetics.


Cinematography

Broken down into:

  • Camera movements
  • Shot size
  • Camera angle


Shot sizes


  • XLS - Extreme long shot
  • LS - Long shot
  • MLS - Medium long shot
  • MS - Medium shot
  • ECL - Extreme close up
  • CU - Close up
  • BCU - Big close up
  • ECL - Extreme close up


Camera Movements


  • Pan - The camera LENS turns either left or right JUST THE CAMERA LENSE MOVING
  • Tracking - Where the WHOLE of the camera moves back/forward/left/right

You can pan whilst tracking

  • Tilt - Where the lens tilts upwards or downwards
  • Dolly - Wheeled device moving on the ground with the camera mounted
  • Zoom - Zoom in or out focusing on different things
  • Cran - Camera on a crane. You can crane up or crane down

You can tilt and pan whilst craning too

  • Static camera - Where the camera isn’t moving at all


What is the effect of the tracking shot in “The Shining”?

The Low angle tracking shot used in the scene creates tension for the spectator as we relate with Danny because we see everything around the next corner at the same time as him so we're essentially experiencing it in “real time” instead of viewing the situation beforehand which heightens the suspense. The low angle shot puts as at the same perspective as Danny and conventionally the Low angle shot makes the spectator feel inferior as we are not omniscient in the scene.

In the second Low angle tracking shot. The director has used an extreme long shot of Danny on his tricycle far in the distance of the corridor. The use of this shot size isolated Danny from the spectator and forces feelings of vulnerability for both the audience and Danny as he disappears from the shot.



Pan

Pan left, pan right, and whip pans




How is the ‘Whip pan’ used in the following clip? “The Shining”

What kind of effect does it have on the spectator?

What does it convey about the character?

The whip pan in used when Johnny starts to axe the door down, the use of this camera movement exaggerates the power, and speed of his swings. This increased the anxiety of the spectators as his strength is emphasised, influencing the audience into assuming that her death is near.

The static shot that follows the repeated whip pans, allowed the spectator to view her sheer terror ultimately exaggerating the tension and fear that is growing inside her.


Crane Shots

These are often used at the end of a film, with the camera drifting up and away from the characters at the denouement, suggesting that we, the spectator, are finally leaving the sphere of action. Finishing a film is notoriously difficult, with freeze frames and dips to black are regularly used.


The Micro Features - Dolly zoom, pull focus & depth of field


The Dolly zoom

The camera is pulled away from the object, while the lens zooms in, or vice-versa

This creates a distorted visual effect

Most notably pioneered in Hitchcock’s Vertigo.


Camera Racking - Also known as ‘pull focus’

The focus shifts between objects/people (Pull focus into someone in the foreground, or focus on someone in the background)


Handheld shots

Really makes you feel like you’re actually there.

Jerky and shakes moments


Steadycam (check spelling)

The camera is not shaky and stabilised


Static Shot

When the camera is NOT moving at all. Focuses on one point without moving


Canted/Oblique/Dutch angle

The camera is tilted and not level with the action. (Lopsided)


Depth of Field

When certain points of the shot are in focus and some parts are not

(To achieve you sometimes need quite a wide angled lens)

Deep depth of field - Multiple objects in focus

Shallow depth of field - One (few) objects in focus


3 Point lighting set up


Back light (low intensity)

Key light (Brightest)

Fill light (Med. Intensity)


What is the effect of using back lighting in this image (Lord of The Rings)

The back lighting being used on the character Galadriel, emphasises her ethereal power and presence as it creates a fanatical glow around her perimeter. This highlights her significance as a being a super natural power towards the spectators.


Top lighting (lighting coming in from on top)

Under lighting (lighting coming in from underneath)

Chiaroscuro - In which harsh lighting creates contrast between areas of light and shade; used extensively in film noir, as well as in many horror films

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